Life as a Marquette rower
What you’re actually signing up for
The practices, the seasons, and everything that happens between the boathouse and the banquet.
Our team
Our crew consists of both men’s and women’s teams, who mostly share practices. Varsity squads practice five days a week in the morning, while novice schedules stay flexible. Everyone starts as a novice — and after one full year, athletes automatically move up to varsity. Coxswains may compete with either the men’s or women’s team.
Novice
Year one
Learn the stroke on a flexible schedule, race your first regattas, and move up automatically after one full year.
Varsity
Years two through four
Five morning practices a week, faster boats, and the standard the novices are chasing.
Coxswains
Both squads
The voice in the boat. Coxswains race with the men’s or women’s squad — often both in one weekend.
Fall & spring
Mornings on the water
Home base is the Menomonee River, with practices exploring downtown on the Milwaukee River and occasional trips out to Lake Michigan. Varsity crews arrive at the boathouse at 5:15 AM and are on the water until 7:00 AM, four weekdays a week.
On Saturdays, the men’s and women’s teams trade off two-hour slots — typically 7:00–9:00 AM and 9:00–11:00 AM. You’ll see more sunrises in one semester than most people see in college. That’s not a warning; it’s the best part.
Winter
Where spring races are won
When the rivers freeze, the team moves onto the ergs in Humphrey Hall. Men’s and women’s squads alternate between morning and evening sessions — 5:15–7:00 AM and 6:00–7:45 PM — so each squad still practices five times a week.
Winter is a mix of challenging interval workouts, steady-state rowing, and partner competitions. It’s the least glamorous season and the one every varsity rower points to when the boat moves well in April.
Humphrey Hall
Winter erg room
5×
sessions per squad, per week
AM / PM
5:15–7:00 AM · 6:00–7:45 PM, squads alternating
Outside of practice
The team off the water
Marquette Crew promotes a close network of student athletes inside and outside the boats. Frequent team dinners, our annual Thanksgiving celebration, formals, volleyball, and collaborations with Marquette’s other water sports teams — the calendar off the water stays as full as the one on it.
Our rowers build tight friendships with one another, and that welcoming environment is what lets the team keep growing. Ask alumni what they remember; the races come second.
Ready to row?
Your seat in the boat is open.
No tryouts, no cuts, no experience required. Tell us you’re interested and we’ll take it from there.
Fill out the interest formTakes about two minutes. No commitment yet — we’ll just say hello.